Cybex Melio Carbon stroller review

Carbon fibre frames are a relatively new introduction to the world of strollers, with just the super-premium J-Carbon by Junior Jones (coming in at a whopping £2,102 starting price) currently available in the UK. The benefits of a carbon fibre chassis are that the strollers are incredibly lightweight and easy to steer and handle – even with a heavy toddler, a one-handed push is a breeze. The technology does come at a price, but if a stroller that’s easy to carry and transport is high on the list of must-haves, it’s certainly worth considering.

Buy The Cybex Melio Carbon Stroller: Boots, Samuel Johnston, Amazon and John Lewis

Tested by

Chris tested the Cybex Melio Carbon with his 6-month-old son, using it in the city, and out in the countryside. He also put it through its paces on a family trip into central London, on both public transport and in a taxi.

How easy is the Cybex Melio Carbon to assemble?

It’s relatively straightforward to assemble, and comes with an instruction manual in the box, along with the rest of the buggy parts. As tends to be the case with strollers now, the instructions were annotated illustrations rather than written steps, and were clear to follow.

It took us about 20 minutes to work out where everything went, and the trickiest part was figuring out how to lengthen the straps.

If you do get stuck, there are some tutorial videos on the Cybex website which are helpful.

How do you fold the Cybex Melio Carbon?

• Put the brake on.
• Fold the hood back.
• Lift the handle at the back of the seat unit then fold the seat forwards until it lies flat, following the line of the chassis.
• Push the button in the middle of the handlebar, then fold it forwards until it lies flat – it will then automatically keep folding itself up.
• Make sure the wheels click into place, so it’s self-standing.

There are a number of steps to fold the stroller, which I felt made it a little trickier than others I’ve used – but I am a slow learner!

How compact is the Cybex Melio Carbon when folded?

The Melio Carbon folds down to a relatively compact L71.5cmxW49cmxH37.5cm, not far off the Cybex Eezy S Twist+2 at L68cmxW47.5cmxH30.5cm (although this is significantly heavier at 8.6kg), smaller than the Bugaboo Bee6 at L90cmxW47cmxH36cm, but considerable bigger than the super-compact Ickle Bubba Globe Prime at L55cmxW45cmxH25cm. The fact it’s free-standing did make it easy to store though.

Does it fit well in the boot of your car?

Yes. It fitted easily into the boot of our Vauxhall Mokka and left about half of the boot free. We noticed, however, that when compared to our folded YoYo buggy, the Cybex does take up a little more space.

How heavy is the Cybex Melio Carbon?

This is where the Melio Carbon really shines. At just 5.8kg it’s one of the lightest strollers on the market, with close competition from models like the Silver Cross Clic at 5.9kg and the Joolz Aer at 6.1kg. What makes it even easier to pick up and move around is the handy carry handle, so you’ll have no problem moving between cars or carry into the house – you can even carry it over your shoulder.

How easy is the stroller to manoueurve?

The most striking feature of this buggy is its lightness. It moves swiftly through the streets and I found it the smoothest drive of all the buggies I’ve pushed. The lightweight carbon fibre frame really helps and it’s easy to push one-handed.

Is the handle on the Cybex Melio Carbon adjustable?

Yes. You can choose from a few different heights, so it should work for short or tall parents (I’m just over 6 foot).

How does the Cybex Melio Carbon handle on kerbs?

While its nimble carbon frame is a huge strength, the downside is that I felt it gave the Melio Carbon a lack of sturdiness. Try to power over a steep step, or go up and down kerbs, and the lightweight buggy struggles, and sometimes feels stuck.

Although the rear wheels have decent suspension and the front wheels have rubber shock absorbers, they are small, and this may be part of the difficulty. For these kinds of manoeuvres, I prefer a tank-like Bugaboo, however it’s worth noting that other online reviews of the stroller have praised how well it handles on uneven surfaces.

Is the stroller good for using on public transport?

The carry handle is really useful for carrying the stroller up and down the stairs when using the Underground, but I did find that using this buggy on public transport can be difficult, particular when getting on and off buses when unfolded. It’s definitely worth folding it up if you can, into a compact free-standing package.

Having said that, I did manage to get into the back of a large black London taxi without having to fold it up, so that’s a huge plus.

Is it the Cyber Melio Carbon a stylish stroller?

Absolutely. The Melio Carbon is deep black and has an attractive, premium design. It feels high quality, although it currently only comes in one colourway.

What do you think of the seat unit on the Cybex Melio Carbon?

Great. The seat unit was roomy for our 6-month-old, who is big for his age, and we expect it will last him until he is 3.

Being able to recline the seat completely flat is great for nap times and, even better, you can do it one-handed.

Is the seat front and rear-facing?

Yes. The reversible seat means you can have your child facing out or facing you while pushing. Our 6-month-old loved this feature, allowing extra interaction and eye contact.

It’s easy to swap over and can be done simply by pushing the buttons on each side of the buggy to remove the seat and then slotting it back in.

What’s the hood like on the Cybex Melio Carbon?

With UPF50+ sun protection, the large hood goes right the way down, giving complete protection from the elements and creating a nice nap environment. It also has two mesh peep-hole windows to keep one eye on your baby when the hood is down.

How do you rate the basket?

The basket offers decent storage space for the rain cover and all the extra items you may need, as well as being easily accessible from the front and back.

What are the brakes like on the Cybex Melio Carbon?

Located at the back of the buggy, the flip-flop friendly brake is easy to find, easy to use and effective.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Seat unit
• 2 x front wheels
• 2 x rear wheels
• Bumper bar
• XXL sun canopy
• Comfort inlay
• Shopping basket

What are the additional accessories you can buy?

• Car seat adapters
• Cup holder
• Rain cover
• Parasol
• Summer seat liner
• Footmuff

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pushchair?

I would have liked to have known about how it handles up and down kerbs and steps. Although it is meant for urban settings, ironically I felt the buggy is at its best when it is being used on a flat road, without having to go over kerbs.

Is the Cybex Melio Carbon worth the money?

At £479.95, the Cybex Melio is priced at the higher end of the market, but I think it’s a fair price given the luxury features, the fact it’s made out of carbon fibre, as well as how lightweight and compact the stroller is. It can used from birth up to 3 years, which spreads the cost, too.

How does it compare to similar pushchairs?

Where can I buy the Cybex Melio Carbon?

You can but it from, Boots, Samuel Johnston, Amazon and John Lewis.

MadeForMums verdict:

Packed full of great features, this nippy, ultra-lightweight stroller is ideal if you want your little one to be comfortable, to face you when you walk around town and have a long nap when you are out (thanks to the XXL sun canopy). The carbon fibre frame makes it very easy to manouevre and would be a great choice for travelling, thanks to its compact fold. We felt its lightweight frame meant it struggled a little going up and down kerbs and steps, but for a day-to-day stroller that looks good and can be stored easily, it’s a fantastic premium choice.